Full Text
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhonda Johnson, Public Information Officer, Big Horn County (406) 679-0572 Big Horn County Announces 59th Death from COVID-19 Seven newly-confirmed cases added HARDIN, MONTANA (December 17, 2020) – Big Horn County today announced the 59th death of a County resident due to complications from the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The decedent is a man in his 80’s who was not hospitalized prior to his death today, Thursday, December 17, 2020. The Big Horn County COVID-19 Response Unified Coalition is truly sorry to learn of his loss and send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire Big Horn County community. This is the 11th death recorded in December. The County’s fatality rate is 2.8% (59 deaths out of 2,096 total cases); however, the rate is 19.3% for those age 70 and older (33 deaths out of 171 cases) and 29% for men age 70 and over (20 deaths out of 69 cases). Big Horn County added seven new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, December 17, 2020. All seven presented with when tested. Two patients likely contracted the virus through community spread and five cases could be traced by public health to previously-known cases of coronavirus. The new cases are: Age Ranges Female Male Totals Under age 10 - - - Age 10 – 19 - 1 1 Age 20 – 29 - - - Age 30 – 39 2 - 2 Age 40 – 49 - - - Age 50 – 59 - 1 1 Age 60 – 69 - 1 1 Over age 70 1 1 2 Totals 3 4 7 Total confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Big Horn County: Age Ranges Female Male Totals Recovered Active Deaths Under age 10 81 84 165 Age 10 – 19 170 169 339 Age 20 – 29 179 151 330 Age 30 – 39 178 164 342 Age 40 – 49 149 111 260 Age 50 – 59 150 108 258 Age 60 – 69 128 103 231 Over age 70 102 69 171 Totals 1,137 959 2,096 1,910 127 59 Recoveries in the County remain at 1,910. 59 persons are deceased. Of the 127 active cases, 106 patients are quarantining and recovering at home. The number of Big Horn County resident patients currently hospitalized in the region is 21. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 of 2 Month Number of Cases Number of Deaths April 3 - May 27 - June 44 3 July 249 5 August 357 8 September 294 7 October 456 17 November 473 8 December (12/17/2020 to date) 193 11 Total since Pandemic Began 2,096 59 With the holiday season, it is more important than ever to follow the three W’s: Wash your hands; Watch your distance from other people; Wear a mask. The County asks all residents to please continue stay home more often and to avoid events or gatherings. Also, the Board of County Commissioners and Board of Public Health ask everyone to wear a mask and social distance when outside of their homes and in public. Masks are required when engaged in indoor activities, such as shopping. Masks are not necessary in the event that residents are outdoors and unlikely to come within six feet of other people, such as while taking advantage of our beautiful county, to work, recreate, or exercise outside. Tracking down contacts to a positive case (contact tracing) is one of the best tools public health can use to slow the spread of the virus. If you believe you were in the presence of a recently confirmed COVID- 19 case for more than five minutes, please call public health so that a nurse may interview you and determine what level of exposure you have: • IHS Public Health Nursing: (406) 638-3478 • Big Horn County Public Health: (406) 665-8720 Big Horn County is the sixth largest county in Montana, at approximately 5,023 square miles, and with a population exceeding 13,000. The local government was established January 13, 1913. Hardin is the County Seat. For more information about the County’s COVID-19 response, please visit our Facebook page at